Urdaneta mayor, vice mayor, councilors dismissed by Ombudsman

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Urdaneta City Mayor Julio “Rammy” Fernandez Parayno III, Vice Mayor Jimmy Dereje Parayno, and six members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod based on consolidated administrative complaints.

In its April 15, 2026 decision, the Ombudsman found the mayor and vice mayor administratively liable for grave misconduct, while the six city councilors were found liable for gross neglect of duty.

Urdaneta City officials only received the Ombudsman decision on Thursday.

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The consolidated decision involved separate complaints filed on Jan. 22, 2025, March 17, 2025, April 28, 2025, and July 7, 2025, respectively, for Grave Abuse of Authority, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, Conduct Unbecoming of a Public Official, and Immoral and Disgraceful Conduct.

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Barangay League President Michael Brian M. Perez filed all the complaints. Mayor Parayno removed Perez from his post, leading to the suspension of the two top city officials on an order by then Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in January 2025.

The Ombudsman also dismissed Councilors Franco Paolo San Juan Del Prado, Warren Dela Cruz Andrada, Aurelio L. Agsalud, Franklin V. Villanueva, Jhan Hero M. Sumera, and Alfonso Miguel Manuel Del Prado.

It said the councilors refused to perform their duties when designated as acting mayor and acting vice mayor, including refusal to receive orders from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

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The Ombudsman considered these actions violations of their obligations as public officials.

They were ordered dismissed from service, with cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, disqualification from taking civil service examinations, and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

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READ: DILG chief gives top Urdaneta execs 10 days to step downHowever, the decision also dismissed several other charges against the mayor and vice mayor, including grave abuse of authority, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, conduct unbecoming of a public official, and disgraceful and immoral conduct. 

None of the officials have issued statements regarding the Ombudsman action as of presstime./coa